LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Queen Elizabeth on Thursday formally granted Prime Minister Theresa May the power to trigger exit talks with the European Union, approving legislation which passed through parliament late on Monday.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Ben Stansall

The announcement, made in parliament by speaker John Bercow, confirms that May can begin divorce talks at any time, although her spokesman hinted on Monday that any such decision was likely to come towards the end of the month rather than in the coming days.